The Commonwealth of Embrea is a geographically-small, demographically-midsized country located in south-central Wallasea and bordering Quiberon, Flamaguay and Haghia as well as the Arentian Sea. It is a founding member of the Reims Agreement.

POLITICS

Constitutionally, the Embrean Commonwealth is a unitary constitutional monarchy with the King (or Queen) as head of state and the Chancellor as head of government, appointed by the unicameral Vergadering (National Assembly). However, following a contested election in 1986 and subsequent civil unrest, the Vergadering was prorogued pending fresh elections; these have yet to take place. In consequence, the Commonwealth has been ruled for three decades as essentially an absolute monarchy.

A coup has recently been launched by elements of the military headed by Field Marshal Martin Vandenberg, Chief of Staff of the Embrean Security Forces; at present, its motives and ideologies are unknown.

Conventional long form: The Commonwealth of EmbreaCapital: AmbergAdministrative divisions: 38 provinces + chartered city of AmbergCitizenship: Jus sanguinis; at least one citizen parent.Suffrage: Universal at 17 years of age*National symbols: falcon, crimson gold and silver/gray, coat of armsNational anthem:Het Wilhelmus (The Song of William)

I. Government

Head of state: King Alexander II**Chancellor:vacantLegislature: Unicameral (Vergadering - normally rendered in English as National Assembly in daily parlance)*Voting: Party list

II. Law

Embrean law dates to the high middle ages and was based largely on customary law enshrined through stare decisis - in modernity, the law has been largely codified. Jury trials are available to certain criminal and civil matters.

Constitution: Codified.Highest court: In theory the Crown as fount of justice serves as the court of last resort; in actuality this function has been subsumed by the High Court of Justice. While the Crown may still exercise the right to hear a matter on appeal personally, it has not done so since 1818.Jury trials: Available for criminal matters subject to imprisonment >1yr upon conviction, and civil matters with stakes >Th.10,000Double jeopardy: Protection against retrial for convictions and acquittals; a case resulting in acquittal in criminal matter may be tried civilly (e.g. wrongful death). Mistrial may be retried in cases of hung jury (must be retried within 90 days) but if a conviction is not forthcoming on retrial the case may not be tried a third time.Law enforcement: Ministry of Justice and National Gendarme + city-level policing in major areas.

ECONOMICS

Mixed-market with high rate of government spending (~40% of GDP) focused on infrastructure and social-welfare programming. Tertiary economy based on service and information technology industries with some light industry/manufacturing. Natural resources include timber, iron/steel, coal, staple grains/cereals, cattle. Government-directed economic growth (dirigism) aims for 4.5% GDP growth per annum and <3% unemployment.

Embrean society can be thought of as collectivist in nature though not to the extent of Galla; social values generally promote national interest, involvement in one's community, concern for the poor and underprivileged, tolerance, and cohesiveness. Egalitarianism and natural rights are common themes of Embrean culture and government. Historically, the Commonwealth has been bilingual and had a sizable minority of native Quiberonnais speakers in the border provinces; these regions have to some extent developed a separate ethno-national identity which is distinct from that of Embrean speaking Embrea and from Quiberon proper. Since the 1950s-60s immigration from Flamaguay, Haghia and eastern portions of Wallasea has become increasingly common, leading to ethnic enclaves of these populations in major cities. On the whole, though, they tend to be well-assimilated owing to proactive government initiatives in that regard.

The Embrean Security Forces are the military force of the Commonwealth and tasked primarily with its defense; Embrea does not have a strong military culture and, as a noninterventionist state, has rarely had cause for a large military.